Spring-wheel.



' PATENTED OCT. 23, 1906.

A. ELLIS.

- SPRING. WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED DEC- 26,, 1905.

27 iglnjuenl'oz I A UNIT D sTA rE. P

ATZENT oFFIoE.

ABRAM ELLIS, OF AUGUSTA, GEORGIA.

PRING-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentedoc t. 23.1906.

application filed December 26, 1905. Serial No. 293,254

This invention relates to spring-wheels for.

vehicles.

s The object of the invention is to produce a Wheel with a yieldlng rim composed of segments, the segments being supported by coiled springs, which are compressed as the wheel asses over an obstacle, so that the whole oad need not be lifted to pass over slight obstructions.

Figure 1 is an'elevation of a wheel according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a-broken plan of one of the rim-supports .with rimsegments attached at one side thereof, showing part of'another support and connectedsegments. Figx3 is a side elevation of one rim-segment and part of another and a collar, partly in section. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the spokes and springs and the parts connected to the spoke.

The numeral 1 indicates the hub of awheel.

This hub has any s'uitablenumber of spokes.

2 2, said spokes being rigidly connected to the hub in any convenient manner. The

spokes are preferably enlarged and externally screw-threaded for a part of their length, as at 3, Fig. 4:. A nut 4 ma be screwed along this threaded portion 0 the s oke, an a lock-nut 5. holds the nut 4' in p ace. T e nut 4.has a sleeve. or elongation 6, extending from its outer end to prevent the spring 7 from coming incontact witli the threaded portion of the spoke. Nut 4 has a seat 8 for the end of the coiled spring 7,which s ring surrounds the spoke 2.- Outside of p t e spring 7 toward the wheel-rim there is a collar 9 surrounding the spoke and free to slide on said spoke. The end of this collar I which is toward the hub. has a seat 10 for the outer end of sprinfg 7. v

, The outer end 0 spoke 2 is of reduced diameter, affording a seat for the segment-carrier.

. This carrier consists of a ring or band 15,

which surrounds'the spoke, and hastrunnions 16, one at each side of the band and projecting in a line parallel with the axis of the hub 1. The band 15 is held to the spoke by a nut 17, which screws on a threaded end of the I spoke, or it may be held in other suitable manner.

The wheel-rim is composed of a number of segments 19 and 20, each series of segments constituting a ring or broken annulus. Each rim-segment 19 or 20 is composed of a curved plate of metal constituting apart of the rim. Near each end of each segment there is a'slot 22 of nearly triangular form. The segments are so applied to the wheel that the trunsaid slots 22, and nuts 18 on the ends 0 trunnions 16 hold the segments 19 and 20 on the trunnions 16. The edges of "the segments 19 and 20 then rest against the outer faces of'the collars 9. r

The segments 19 and 20 have tread-flanges 29 and 30, which project outwardly of 1nwardly, accordingto the position of the segcorrugated crosswise to the wheel.

-When the segments 19 and 20 are assembled on the trunnions 16 of the rim-supports, the collars 9 should press the inner edge or en of slots 22 ,against said trunnions, the collars 9 being pressed toward the outer endsof the spokes by springs 7 i The rim-segments manner described, constitute the wheel-rim.

obstacle, the segments which engage said ohstacle will yield, forcing up'the collar 9, which is nearest the obstacle. yield by compressing either one. spring, as when the adjacent ends of two segments are I larger than half the length ofa segment; but

yielding of one or more segments without altering the form of the wheel beyond the exobstacle. On passin the obstacle the segments will be pressed ack to normal-position by the s rings 7 .acting on collars 9.

By a justing nuts 4 the tension of the load. M

The flanges constituting the tread of the cording. to the circumstances of the case.

width of the slots 22.

I have not attempted tions of any of the parts, as these will depend on the necessities of the case. I have merely ments.- These'tread fian'ges are preferably- The segments may.

in either case the form ofslots 22 permits the.

tremities of such segments as encounter the" The yield of the segments is limited by the to show the proper nions or transverse pins 16 extend through ft e being assembled in the l When a wheelso constructed passes over an lifted, or two springs, as when the obstacle is springs 7 may be regulated, so that the rimsegments will yield under a greater or less wheel may be made wider or narrower, ac-

I'io

explained the. general features of construction and operation herein.

What I claim is 1. The combination, in a spring-wheel for vehicles, of a hub, rigid radiating spokes, springs connected to the spokes and adjustable as to tension, and a rim composed of loosely-connected segments of a ring, yieldingly connectedto the spokes, and having their supports from the springs, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a spring-Wheel, of a hub, radiating spokes having external screw-threads, a nut on each spoke engaging said thread, a coiled spring around the spoke and having its bearing on the nut, and a rimsegme'nt extending between adjacent spokes and loosely connected thereto, and having its support from the springson said spokes.

3. The combination of the hub, radiating spokes rigidly connected to the hub, coiled springs on said spokes having bearings toward the hub, segment-carriers outside said springs, and rim-segments yieldingly connected to said segment-carriers and to each other, and supported by said springs.

4. The combination in a spring-wheel, of the hub, radiating spokes rigidly connected to the hub, springs surrounding said spokes,

sliding collars surrounding the spokes and supported by the-springs, and a rim composed of segments loosely connected together, and bearing on said collars.

5. The combination, in a spring-Wheel, of the hub, radiating spokes, springs carried by said spokes, and a ring at the outer, and a second ring at the inner side of said spokes,

each ring composed of segments loosely connected, said rings supported by substantially as described.

6. The combination, in a spring-wheel, of a hub and radiating spokes, springs carried by the spokes, and a rim composed of segments connected by transverse pins extending through flaring slots in the segments, said segments supported by the springs, sub stantially as described.

7. The combination, in a spring-wheel, of a hub and radiating spokes having external screw-threads, nuts on said spokes having sleeves extending outside the screw-threads, springs having bearings on said nuts outside the said sleeves, and segmental rims supported by said springs.

In testimony whereof I affix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.

- ABRAM ELLIS.

the springs,

Witnessesz W. A. BARTLETT, M. E. BROWN. 

